Striking looks and a friendly personality make an Alaskan Malamute puppy the perfect choice
Native to the rugged landscape of Alaska, the Alaskan Malamute is a hearty dog, bred to pull heavy sleds over long distances. Their thick double coat allows them to endure cold climates and their size and natural work ethic makes them dependable service dogs. They are quite active, requiring a good bit of regular exercise to keep them happy, and are known for being very friendly, even overly so, which prevents them from being effective watch dogs. Despite this inherent flaw, they are still loving family companions who thrive as part of a pack. Their substantial size can be intimidating, with males standing 25 inches and weighing 85 pounds and females standing 23 inches and weighing 75 pounds. Their fluffy coat comes in gray, black, white, copper and sable.
History
As one of the oldest Arctic sled dog breeds, the Alaskan Malamute traces its origins back to the indigenous Mahlemut people, who migrated from Siberia to the Seward Peninsula thousands of years ago. The Mahlemuts used these strong, athletic dogs to haul heavy sleds, aid in seal hunting and even act to deter polar bears. In the late 1800’s, other breeds were introduced to the area and interbreeding resulted in a loss of purity of the original Malamute line. In the early 1900s several breeders worked to re-introduce pure Alaskan Malamute strains. By 1935 the American Kennel Club had recognized the Alaskan Malamute as a breed.
Temperament
The Alaskan Malamute is known to be an outgoing breed, viewing almost everyone they meet as friends, which can be endearing but means they don’t make ideal guard dogs. As pack dogs, they have an innate sense of loyalty to their family and can be loving and playful family companions. They also have a built-in prey drive, meaning they will naturally chase and even kill smaller animals so they need to be contained in a fenced in yard when outdoors and should be carefully monitored around other pets. They do well with children but early socialization is important to ensure a good temperament.
Environment
Since they are bred to be working dogs, Alaskan Malamutes need regular exercise and that means stretching their legs. For this reason, they tend to not do well in apartments, preferring a nice, spacious fenced in yard to run around in. It’s also important to give them plenty of mental stimulation because they have a tendency to dig when they become bored. They don’t do a lot of barking but they are known for their distinctive "woo woo" howl and other vocalizations that they will use to communicate with you.
Exercise
As active and energetic dogs, Alaskan Malamutes require regular exercise in order to keep them happy. In general, they require at least two hours of exercise every day, so they are best suited to a highly active household. They will do well with long walks, hikes or physical activities like pulling a heavy sled or engaging in dog sports or obedience training. While they are intelligent dogs, they can be quite stubborn which can make them a challenge to train. For this reason, they don’t normally make a good choice for first time dog owners.
Grooming
Their thick double coat provides protection against the cold but it can also present challenges when it comes to temperature control. Not surprisingly, they don’t do well with hot temperatures and so you’ll need to be careful about providing plenty of shade and water during the warmer months. Regular grooming is essential to help maintain their coat, including brushing them two or three times a week and more frequently during the shedding seasons. While it is important to keep them clean, you shouldn’t bathe your Malamute too frequently as this can dry out their skin.
